Allentown man admits to role in Hatfield burglary spree

NORRISTOWN — The second of three people accused of stealing copper and brass from manufacturing and recycling businesses in Hatfield Township, allegedly to fuel heroin habits, has been sentenced to jail after admitting to his role in the scheme.

Michael Dasburg, 28, of the first block of North Second Street, Allentown, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to nine to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to felony burglary charges in connection with incidents that occurred between October 2012 and April 2013. Judge William R. Carpenter, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Dasburg to complete five years’ probation after he’s paroled, essentially ensuring Dasburg will be under court supervision for about seven years.

Dasburg also is responsible for about $5,235 in restitution in connection with the incidents.

One of Dasburg’s conspirators, Robert M. McBrien Jr., 25, of the 1600 block of Round House Road, Quakertown, previously received an identical sentence after he pleaded guilty.

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A third alleged conspirator, Heather Nicole Benner, 21, of Cathill Road, Sellersville, is still awaiting court action on burglary-related charges, according to court records.

The burglars, authorities alleged, sold the stolen metals at a recycling facility in Allentown in order to obtain cash to buy heroin.

Hatfield police alleged the trio commenced their crimes in October 2012, with a burglary of Schlosser Steel Incorporated at 2641 Township Line Road, during which $6,000 worth of copper welding cables and other welding equipment was stolen.

On Dec. 8, 2012, court papers alleged, police discovered an attempted burglary at Emert Recycling Corporation at 2700 Richmond Road, during which someone had attempted but failed to gain access when an alarm was activated.

Schlosser Steel was burglarized again in February 2013, according to the criminal complaint, with the individuals entering the facility and removing braided copper grounding cables, valued at approximately $1,500, from welding machinery. Police said video surveillance of the burglary showed two male suspects in hooded sweatshirts cutting the cables.

On March 4, burglaries were reported at both Emert Recycling Corporation and at Little Round Industries at 2800 Richmond Road, according to court papers. At Little Round, the burglars stole a $150 handheld grinding saw and two extension cords, police alleged. At Emert, according to police, the suspects made off with a large spool of one-inch-thick copper wire valued at $600.

Three days later, Emert Recycling was burglarized again, according to police, when copper pipe and tubing worth $2,500 was reported stolen. Officers discovered tire tread impressions near the scene, which were photographed, according to the criminal complaint filed by Hatfield Detective Richard F. Hoffner.

On April 2, according to police, an employee of Peak Precision Incorporated/Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Incorporated at 3195 Penn Avenue who had entered the building around 3 a.m. to begin his shift discovered two men, both clad in dark hoodies, inside the machine shop using a band saw to cut copper and brass. Both men fled and were not found, according to police, who said the pair left behind 560 pounds of copper and brass valued at approximately $2,500.

Court records indicate three days later, however, Pennridge police nabbed Dasburg after responding to an alarm at Kutzner Manufacturing Company Incorporated at 3255 Meetinghouse Road in Telford. Police spotted Dasburg fleeing the building with an accomplice who escaped but was later identified as McBrien. Benner, who was driving her white Honda Civic nearby, was stopped and arrested after police learned she had driven Dasburg and McBrien to Kutzner Manufacturing, according to the criminal complaint.

Benner’s car was impounded and a search of the vehicle yielded the grinding saw reported stolen from Little Round, as well as several pairs of work gloves and unspecified hand tools, according to the arrest affidavit. Police also alleged the tire tread on the Civic was “very similar” to the tread impressions found in the cornfield near Emert Recycling.

Police said the investigation determined that Benner — using the alias “Heather Buzzard” — had sold brass and copper scrap at Eastern Metal Recycling in Allentown and detectives recovered sales receipts for nine separate transactions between February and April totaling $3,698.

McBrien later provided a statement to investigators, admitting that he and Dasburg, with Benner’s help, had been breaking into businesses to steal copper and brass and selling it “for money to buy heroin,” Hoffner alleged. McBrien also revealed he once worked at Schlosser Steel.

Benner subsequently admitted to driving McBrien and Dasburg to and from the burglary locations as well as selling the stolen metals.

“Heather Benner advised she participated in these burglaries to obtain money to support her heroin addiction and pay daily living expenses,” Hoffner wrote in the arrest affidavit.

About the Author

Carl Hessler Jr. writes about crime and justice at the Montgomery County Courthouse for The Mercury and 21st Century Media Newspaper’s Greater Philadelphia area publications. A native of Reading, he studied at Penn State University and Kutztown University before graduating from Alvernia University with a degree in communications. He is a recipient of a National Headliner Award and has been honored for his writing by the Keystone Press Association, Philadelphia Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania. Reach the author at chessler@pottsmerc.com
or follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews.